KC police trace stolen assault rifle to woman’s shooting death

A 34-year-old man was charged Friday in the shooting death of his wife, whose body was found in September by a city water services worker.

Rudolph E. George of Kansas City, Kan., faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Lacrisha Duff George.

A contract worker with the city’s water department found the woman’s body Sept. 22 while checking lines near 44th Street and Askew Avenue. The body was in a home’s rear patio doorway.

According to court records, police found several live ammunition rounds and two spent shell casings next to her body. She died from gunshot wounds to the chest, back and head.

Earlier on Sept. 22, police went to the area after a call about shots fired. Officers spoke with a man who acknowledged hearing one gunshot but denied knowing anything about the shooting. He did not reveal to officers that he lived at the house where the victim’s body was later found.

A witness told investigators that George shot his wife following an argument. The witness said the couple frequently visited his residence and consistently fought. The witness said he previously saw George with an assault rifle.

The night of the homicide, George and his wife parked their maroon SUV behind the house on Askew. The witness heard the couple argue.

The witness told investigators he later heard several gunshots from the rear of the house. The witness ran out the front door and went to a nearby gas station and called George’s mother, according to court documents.

Investigators later contacted a woman who said George accompanied her when she purchased an assault rifle. That weapon was stolen the next day, and she told police that she believed George had taken it.

George had a black assault rifle when police arrested him at an Overland Park hotel on Sept. 30.

Ballistics tests showed that three spent shell casings at the homicide scene had been fired by that rifle, court records stated.

George has convictions in Wyandotte and Johnson counties and in federal court for various crimes, including theft, cocaine sales, attempting to flee police and an aggravated escape.

In July, Kansas City police caught him with two handguns, which he could not legally possess because of his felony convictions. But federal prosecutors did not charge him with being a felon in possession until after the killing.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "KC police trace stolen assault rifle to woman’s shooting death."